Martin Scorsese Producing a Film Adaptation of the Mystery Novel WHAT HAPPENS AT NIGHT
Studiocanal has picked up the rights to Peter Cameron’s 2020 mystery novel What Happens At Night and Martin Scorsese is set to produce a feature film adaptation of it. Patrick Marber (Notes On A Scandal) was also hired to write the screenplay.
What Happens At Night is described as “a dream-like story of a married American couple who travel to a small, snowy European town to adopt a baby.”
It’s explained that “the couple check into a cavernous, largely deserted hotel where they encounter an enigmatic cast of characters including a flamboyant chanteuse, a depraved businessman and a charismatic faith healer. Nothing is quite as it seems in this strange, frozen world. As the couple struggle to claim their baby, the less they seem to know about themselves and the life they’ve built together.”
That sounds like an interesting story and the Times Of London called the novel “a mystery story, even a bit of a thriller, with some piggybacking on the ready-made sinister atmosphere of The Shining.” I like the sound of that description, and this could make for a great film.
Author Peter Cameron commented: “I could not be more honoured or delighted to have my novel optioned by Aaron Ensweiler and Shana Eddy at Studiocanal. And to have Martin Scorsese and Patrick Marber, two artists whose talents amaze me, re-imagining and recreating What Happens at Night is simply as good as it gets.”
Producer Patrick Marber added: “I’m so thrilled and so excited to be working with the legendary Martin Scorsese to bring Peter Cameron’s astonishing and beautiful story to the screen.“
Aaron Ensweiler and Shana Eddy said: “Every now and then a project comes along that reminds you why you fell in love with cinema. This is one of those projects. Peter Cameron’s hauntingly beautiful novel captured our imaginations from the first page. The opportunity to shepherd its adaptation is an honour, and the chance to do so with Martin and Patrick is a privilege of the highest order.”
There’s no director attached yet, but maybe there’s a chance that Scorsese will take it on now that he’s finished with Killers Of The Flower Moon.
Source: Deadline